Fall of a star

Seasoned politician, parliamentarian Suranjit Sengupta is no more.

A freedom fighter, eight-time lawmaker and one of the youngest members of country's 34-member constitution framing committee, Suranjit died at 4:24am yesterday at Labaid Hospital in the capital after prolonged illness. He was 72.

The witty public speaker, arguably one of the best in contemporary parliamentary history of Bangladesh, left behind his wife Joya Sengupta, only son Shoumen Sengupta, daughter-in-law and a host of relatives, admirers, followers and well-wishers to mourn his death.

He was suffering from cancer that led to the collapse of his central nervous system, Saifur Rahman Lenin, assistant general manager (corporate communications) of the hospital, told The Daily Star.

Always a big voice for the religious minority communities in Bangladesh, the AL leader had been put on life support on Saturday night.

As the news of his passing broke, leaders and activists first thronged the hospital and then his Jhigatola residence as well as his ancestral home in Sunamganj, which he represented in the House for decades.

The body of the former railway minister was taken to his residence at 9:00am and from there to Dhakeshwari Temple. Later at 3:00pm, the body was taken to the Jatiya Sangsad premises where his colleagues and comrades paid their homage.

His body will be taken to Sylhet at 9:00am today and then to Sunamganj at 11:00am for people to pay their last respect. He will be cremated in Dirai upazila, his constituency.

President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, ministers, BNP chief Khaleda Zia and Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, among others, have expressed deep shock at his death.

“Suranjit Sengupta was not only a political leader but also a veteran parliamentarian. He played a significant role in framing the county's first constitution,” the president said in a condolence message.

Hasina said, "The country has lost a dedicated politician, while the Awami League has lost a dedicated leader in his death."

In her condolence message, Khaleda said the nation would not forget his role as an organiser of the Liberation War and a politician.

“As a seasoned politician, Suranjit Sengupta raised his voice always in favour of the country and its people,” she said. 

Mirza Fakhrul termed him a “rare leader”. 

Later at night, parliament adopted a condolence motion and described Suranjit as a towering personality of the parliamentary democracy.

Colleagues remembered him as a parliamentarian who would always make the House floors vibrant. His ready wits and ready references to the constitution would make parliamentary debates, especially on legal and constitutional matters, rich, informative, enlightening, engaging and enjoyable.   

The Sunamganj-2 MP was also the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry as well as a member of Awami League's advisory council. 

Born on May 5, 1945, at Anowarpur in Dirai upazila, Suranjit was one of the youngest members of the East Pakistan Provincial Assembly in 1970 from National Awami Party (NAP).

Son of Debendranath Sengupta and Sumati Bala Sengupta, Suranjit completed his graduation and master's from Dhaka University and LLB from Central Law College. 

He began his political career as a left ideologue during the turbulent times of 1960s. In student life, he was involved in Chhatra Union politics.

Youngest among four brothers and one sister, he fought the 1971 war as a sub sector commander in Sector 5 which operated in Sylhet region.

He was a vocal member of the Opposition Bench in the constituent assembly of Bangladesh in 1972 and soon after he led a party called Ekota Party. 

He has been an MP in almost all parliaments in the four decades since Bangladesh's independence -- in 1979, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2009 and 2014. 

He was elected lawmaker from Ekota Party in 1979 and from Gonotantri Party in 1991. He then joined Awami League but lost in the 1996 polls, which he contested with AL ticket. Later, he was elected lawmaker through a by-election to that parliament.

He was the parliamentary affairs adviser to PM Hasina during the 1996-2001 Awami League-led government's tenure.

Suranjit became a cabinet member for the first time in 2011, but his short stint as a minister was mired in controversy over the seizure of allegedly some bribe money stashed in a car with one of his aides on board. He denied any wrongdoing, but tendered his resignation. However, the PM did not accept it and made him minister without portfolio instead.

In the previous parliament, he was the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on law, justice and parliamentary affairs ministry and co-chairman of the constitution amendment committee.

During the 1/11 political changeover of 2007, he was considered a reformist in his party along with some other colleagues. Subsequently, he lost his membership in the AL presidium and was made a member of the party's advisory council, seen as a less powerful committee of the AL.